Social Construction

• What do all sociologists agree about the news?

  That it is socially constructed
• What dos sociologists disagree over about values?

  They disagree over whose values are behind the social construction of the news - the dominant class or the majority of society
• What do Pluralists suggest about the social construction of the news?

  For Pluralists, practical constraints are more significant in influencing the news than ideological bias. The values of journalists are the common values in society
• What do Marxists suggest about the social construction of the News?

  For Marxists, the ideological influences are more important and practical constraints can’t be separated from ideology. Journalists values are part of the dominant ruling class ideology